Dennis Nett/The Post-StandardStaff Sgt. Steve Pechey, of Sackets Harbor, and his children, Dennis, 4, and Desiree, 2, and Pechey's mother, Katharina Spencer, listen to a speaker as the 174th Fighter Wing of the New York Air National Guard present Hometown Heroes awards this afternoon at The Maplewood Inn in Salina to 44 airmen for their service in support of guard operations at home and overseas since Sept. 11, 2001.

Liverpool, NY - The 174th Fighter Wing of the New York Air National Guard presented Hometown Heroes awards to 44 airmen on Sunday for their service in support of guard operations at home and overseas since the 9-11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

"The Hometown Heroes salute is a great opportunity to thank our airmen and their families for their services," said Col. Kevin Bradley, the 174th Fighter Wing commander.

The airmen recognized were deployed for more than 30 consecutive days in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Noble Eagle or other contingency operations from Sept. 11, 2001 through Sept. 30, 2010.

The Airmen received a framed letter from the chief of the National Guard Bureau, Gen. Craig R. McKinley, containing a Hometown Heroes salute challenge coin. Children of the deployed airmen also received unique Hometown Heroes dog tags.